Nearly 5000 suicides registered in England in 2020
Delays to Coroner's services mean we still can't see the full impact of the pandemic on suicide rates.
4902 suicides were registered in England in 2020.
The stats have been released by the Office for National Statistics, and cover the number of suicides registered between January and December.
The figures show a reduction in the number of suicides in England compared to 2019: 10.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 compared to 9.9 deaths per 100,000 last year.
The ONS says this reduction "most likely reflects the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the coroner's service in England and Wales; for example, delays to inquests caused by the service adapting to social
Did coronavirus cause a spike in suicides?
Suicides can take months or sometimes years to pass through the coroner's courts. It's too early to tell what the true picture is when it comes to linking the pandemic to suicides.
The first few months of lockdown in 2020 actually saw near 20-year low of suicides registered, but it's suggested that's because Coroners were impacted by lockdown in the same way other organisations were at the start of the pandemic, eg introducing social distancing etc.
The amount of time it takes to officially declare a suicide rose in nearly all parts of England.
By the end of last year, registrations in the East Midlands were taking an average of 254 days.
This means it will be some months before the wider impact of the pandemic is established.
The report also suggests the second half of the year saw figures for England largely in line with pre-pandemic levels of suicide.
Three-quarters of suicides were committed by men
Of the 4902 suicides were registered in England in 2020, 3674 were committed by men.
Chris Judge runs Directions For Men, an organisation supporting men across the North West to deal with their mental health issues, he said:
"We have a responsibility as northern towns as northern cities, to try and change how we perceive mental health and mental illness."
"It is the strongest thing that any person can do and I admire every single man that walks across that threshold into one of our talking groups."
"My plea to all men and women, is that if you are struggling, tell somebody that you are struggling."
"If you need help, ask for help because that's the only way that organisations like mine and a whole variety of other amazing community groups and organisations that work in those communities know that you're there and know that you need help."
"We will respond to you."
Find support if you're feeling suicidal
If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999 without delay.
If you would like to get in contact with Directions For Men you can contact them via their website: https://directionsformen.org.uk/ or call 07894971434.
If you would like to talk to someone about a crisis you're experiencing, call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you would like to use a text service instead, text SHOUT to 85258
Or find mental health services closer to you via the Hub of Hope.
You can also speak to your GP.
Don't suffer alone.
Visit Every Mind Matters for advice about mental health, and what to do if you're experiencing a period of negative mental health.